by Peter Carlson | Nov 15, 2018 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk elaborates a concept proposed by Pema Chodron, the well respected Tibetan teacher and author. Shenpa is a Tibetan term which literally means attachment. Pema Chodron has found a useful adaptation of this term, the hook–the impulsive identification with and reaction to an initial stimulus. Peter provides a useful explanation of this term in Theravadin terms as the process of craving and clinging; he finds the hook term to be a convenient and effective way to quickly note and reject the initial thoughts and emotional reactions to a situation, relating this to the term papanca (pah-pahn-chah), the impulsive proliferation of identification and thoughts initiated by a stimulating event. This discussion included suggestions to foster quicker and more precise identification of the hook through a variation of fundamental mindfulness of breathing practice. This was followed by group discussion of how the meditation practice brings benefit to overcoming the hook.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: DISSOLVING THE HOOK
The post immediately before this post is a recording of a guided meditation entitled “Dissolving The Hook Meditation”.
Next week’s meeting will include a guided gratitude meditation followed by a general discussion of how Buddhism integrates with a daily practice of gratitude.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 45:00 — 82.4MB)
by Peter Carlson | Aug 13, 2020 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk reviews the section of the cetasikas (categories of mind conditioning factors) that are termed “occasional” or “particular”, in that they may or may not accompany other mind conditioning factors in the transient formation of a self. As with the preceding talk on August 5 on the Universal Cetasikas, these mind conditioning factors are ethically malleable, that is, they can accompany either wholesome or unwholesome cetasikas in the process of self-formation. The factors are moving attention to an object, sustaining that attention (The topic of the guided meditation that immediately preceded this talk and which can be found in the archives as “Guided Aiming And Sustaining Attention Meditation), determination, energy, enthusiasm and will-to-do. Each of these factors were reviewed as to their characteristics and how they interact with other cetasikas. The talk was followed by a question and answer discussion.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: THE OCCASIONAL CETASIKAS
As an added resource, here is the chart that includes the entire 2 cetasikas: CETASIKAS POSTER
Next week the topic will begin a review of the unwholesome cetasikas.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:07:14 — 123.1MB)
by Peter Carlson | Feb 25, 2021 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk reviews a mindfulness meditation practice protocol developed by a Burmese teacher named Mahasi Sayadaw, who had a great influence on the important contemporary American Buddhist teachers Joseph Goldstein and Sharon Salsberg of the Insight Meditation Society. Elements of the practice that are reviewed include the importance of intention for cultivating a persistent “noting” of what is immediately occurring in awareness, with a primary focus of attention on the expanding and contracting of the abdomen while practicing mindfulness of breathing meditation. The goal of this practice is to create and sustain a “stream” of noting moments, directly knowing the characteristics of self-organization in order to reveal the nature of anicca, impermanence, one of the three basic characteristics of Buddhism. This streaming process is termed momentary concentration and is expected to produce calmness and clarity in the mind without having to previously cultivate very high levels of fixed concentration. The review is followed by a question and comment period among those attending.
A guided meditation entitled “Guided vipassana With Noting Meditation” was posted for February 24, 2021 in the Guided Meditation Archive and is intended to supplement this talk.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: The Mahasi Sayadaw Method
The focus for the next meeting will be a guided body scan meditation modeled on the teachings of S. N. Goenka followed by a talk that will review the concepts and practices for this form of mindfulness meditation.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:08:06 — 124.7MB)
by Peter Carlson | May 6, 2021 | Listen to Dharma Talks
On April 28, 2021, a guided meditation on Dukkha was recorded, intended to support the Dharma talk for that evening on the same subject. This guided meditation focuses on Anicca, the transitory nature of one’s subjective experience. it is intended to support the topic for the Dharma talk on the same topic. During the meditation, various techniques for training attention in order to be able to investigate the fluid and constantly changing experience we all live with, accompanied by suggestions to realize with dispassion and detachment the fabricated process of self-organization. The suggested practices include noting briefly what is immediately attended to in the mind, using body scan meditation practices and the approach of “Let it come, let it be, let it go”.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Buddhist Three Characteristics Part 2
The focus for the next talk will be on the third core concept, anatta, the absence of an enduring/autonomous self.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 45:01 — 82.4MB)
by Peter Carlson | Sep 9, 2021 | Listen to Dharma Talks
This talk continues a review of the 52 cetasikas, those functions that condition how self-organization is formed, with emphasis on the 14 unwholesome mind conditioners. Each is reviewed and their interactions with other ethically malleable mind conditioning functions is described. The intention is to be able to understand the mind conditioners conceptually and then be able to be immediately aware of their operation through the cultivation of mindful investigation. The goal of this practice is to “deconstruct” the misconception that there is an enduring and autonomous self. To further this insight, this talk is complemented by a recording of the same evening, found in the archive of this site entitled “Contemplating The Unwholesome Mind Conditioners”
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: 2021 THE-UNWHOLESOME-MIND-CONDITIONERS Here is a document that shows all 52 of the cetasikas: CETASIKAS POSTER
Next week’s talk will review the 7 Universal Wholesome Cetasikas, which function in every moment of experience that is unaffected by dukkha.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 56:42 — 103.8MB)
